Reply to an Answer

Hi Cindy,   You and your daughter are wise to find the help your grandson needs.   The first step, as you know, is to have him evaluated. Young children who are hyperactive could be so due to ADHD, but there are other issues (anxiety, mood dysregulation, processing disorders, etc) that can also cause such behaviors and only a competent clinician can tease them out.   Until you find out the cause for his problems, you won't know what the treatment is. Even very young children like your grandson could benefit from medication if the clinician feels it's warranted and it's sad when doctors refuse to consider that option across the board. My own daughter needed to be on medication for severe hyperactivity and impulsivity at just around the same age, and it probably saved her life. She had no self control whatsoever and surely would have run into the street without the benefit of having meds on board.   That said, there are a number of ways to find someone you can take him to for an evaluation.   I would start with the children's hospital in or near Spokane. Ask for the psychiatry or psychology department and describe to them what you've written here...and more. Ask for a referral to someone who sees children this young with these types of behaviors.   You can also contact CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD) to find the chapter closest to you. They would have names of clinicians who could evaluate your grandson. Call 800-233-4050 or visit their website. Washington chapters are listed here: http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Chapter_Search_Display1&state=wa   There's another excellent resource for Washington, though I think the focus is more on the Seattle area. Still, I'm sure there's information there that will help: http://www.addresources.org/   Hope this helps! Terry